Spring type switch bracket



June 4, 1946.

A. L. CLYMER ET AL SPRING TYPE SWITCH BRACKET Filed June 2, 1944 Ho 0:100" 0 Q o INVENTOR;

' ATTORNEY.

Patented June 4, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Alvin L. Clymer and Floyd W. Milner, Oakland, Calif.

Application June 2, 1944, Serial N 0. 538,370

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to railway track switches of the type operated by remotely controlled power machines.

In track switches of this type, the switch points are shifted from one position to the other by a power actuated switch machine which has incorporated in it a locking mechanism designed to prevent accidental movement of the switch points after they have completed their authorized shifting movement. The locking mechanism commonly comprises cooperating sliding bars having interfitting lugs and notches, one bar being moved by the switch machine and the other bar being directly connected with and moved by the switch points.

Interstate Commerce Commission regulations provide that the switch shall be so maintained that it cannot be locked unless the switch points are within one quarter of an inch of their final position against the side of the track or stock rails. function automatically gives an appropriate warning. Normal test procedure involves placing a quarter inch rod between the switch point and the ball of the stock rail while the switch machine is functioning to throw the switch, and under these conditions the locking mechanism must not be able to complete its locking function.

The test procedure described above imposes excessive strain on the switch machine and the connections between it and the switch points, and. causes wear and deterioration of the interfitting parts of the locking mechanism. When the movin switch point meets the quarter inch obstruction placed between it and the ball of the rail, the lower portion of the switch point continues to move, the switch points being sufficient- 1y thin and resilient to permit some twisting. As a result, the locking mechanism, which is onnected with the lower portions of the switch points, is moved almost into position to enable the lugs of the slide bar to engage the notches of the locking rod. In other words, although the switch points are stopped at a distance of one quarter of an inch away from the ball of the rail, the lack of alignment of the lugs and notches of the locking mechanism is much less than one quarter of an inch, and is so small as to produce a tendency for the locking mechanism to force said lugs and notches into engagement. As a result, the edges of the locking lugs and notches become out and rounded off, and after a comparatively small number of test operations under such conditions said locking lugs and notches become worn to such an extent that repair or Inability of the locking mechanism to replacement is required. Operation of the switch points against a test obstruction as described above, or against an accidental obstruction which may lodge between the switch points and the stock rails, also results in undue stresses in the parts of the switch machine and in the connections between it and the switch points.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a resilient connection between the operating rod of the switch machine and the tie rod of the switch points, which allows the switch machine to complete its operation except for its locking function, even though there may be a small obstruction between the switch points and the stock rails, without unduly stressing the operating parts and connections of the switch machine.

A corollary object is to prevent twisting of the switch points in the event of obstruction as described above, and thereby to cause the interfitting parts of the locking mechanism to remain so far out of line that they cannot be forced into locking engagement, and thereby to prevent undue wear and deterioration of the edges of said interfitting parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient connection between the switch machine and the switch points in which the extent of resilience or cushioning movement is limited positively by adjustable rigid stops, so that safe operation of the switch is not dependent upon the integrity of the resilient members. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, which should be read with the understandin that changes within the scope of the claims hereto appended may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts herein described and illustrated.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a track switch operated by a switch machine through our improved resilient connection. Only those parts of the switch machine are shown which are necessary to an understanding of the function and purpose of our invention.

Fig. 2 is a detailed view partly in section of the interfitting parts of the locking mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a detailed view partly in section of our improved resilient connection.

Referring in more detail to the drawing, the reference numerals 5 designate the track or stock rails of a railway switch, and 6 are the movable switch points, the latter being connected together by a main tie rod I and a front tie rod 8.

The switch machine 9 has a. slide bar I and a cam I I connected with said bar by a lug I2. The cam I I oscillates on a vertical spindle from which extends a lever I3. The operating rod I4 is connected with the lever I3 and with the tie rod I of the switch points by a connecting bracket I5 which isbolted tosaid tie rod.

The locking mechanism of the switch machine comprises two lock rods I5 forming adjustable extensions of the front tie rod 8 and provided with notches IT. The slide bar I0 operatingat-right angles to the lock rods I6, is provided with lugs or dogs I8 to engage the notches I'I andthereby to prevent movement of the front rod 8 and the switch points. v chine is such that the slide bar It! i firstmoved to carry the lugs I3 out of engagement with the notches I1, then to operate the rod I4 to throw the ,switch points, and finally to move theslide bar I0 to bringhone of the.lugs I3 into en agement withtheappropriate notch I'l. Sormuch is the usualconstruction and operation of a power 0D- erated track switch.

Our invention involves specifical y, the connecting bracket I5,, which has ahorizontal flange I9 adapted to beholted ,or riveted to the tierod 'I as at 2Il.-. The bracket I5 has a bore extending of beinggreater, as shown at 2|, than isthe diameter. of the central portion 22.

Theoperating rod I4 of theswitch machine extends, through thebore of, the bracket 15, and is v threaded for a considerabledistance on either side of ,saidbracketr Spaced collars 23 are threaded upon the rod I4 on either side of thebracket I5 and are spacedslightly from theside faces therei of. .oLQck nuts 24 secure. the collars 23in position.

H V Helical, springs 25are housed within the enlarged end portions 2I of thebore ofthe bracket J5 and are compressed, between the collars 23 and the should rs 26 at eiin ere ds o Said enl A nrotec as e ve U u rou ds the portions. rod I4 between the collars 23 toprevent glamage to th t readsdu tomo ement. etrv e it rod and the bracket I5.

, The sprin s 2.5 a e so pr p r io i d the collars 23 are so positioned, that the maximum movement of the rodl through the bracket I5, in

either direction. r m its mal balan ed r tion, slightly Jes thanv the minimum prohibited ,di stance between switch point and stock rail. For example, when saidminimum prohibited dis- The operation of the switch ma- I through it, the diameter of the end portions there- 4 out of alignment, so that theslid' bar II] cannot be forced home, and the edges of said lugs and notches are preserved from wear and deterioration.

The cushioning springs 25 ar sufficiently strong'to keep the switch points tight against the stock rails. In practice, the parts are so adjusted that in normal operation the operating rod I4 moves about one sixteenth of an inch against the compression of one of the springs 25 after the switch point has contacted the stop rail.

If one or. both of the cushioning springs 25 should break, the collars 23 would act a s,positive stops to limit the movement-of therpd I4 through the bracket I5 to lessthan one quarter r an inch, so, that even in' the event of such spring failure v the switch points could not remain open by a suflicient amount tolbe dangerous.

We claim:

1. In ,a power operated railwa track switch, fixed track rails, movableswitch points, a switch machine having a movable operatingmember and a' movabl locking member, a resilient connection between saidoperating member, and the switch points, a member rigidly connected with and moved by said points, interengaging locking means carried bysaid rigidly connected member and said, locking member to lock sa id,points at either limit of their movement, said locking means being inoperative when the separatio between either. point and thecorresponding rail exceeds a predetermined minimum distance, and means for limiting the relative movement at saidresilient connection between said operating member and the switch points to'anaf unt e'er eater than sei 'prede rm e m nimum s ra o bet said points and the trackrails.

21 In ,a ipower operatedrailway trackswitch,

sxedtrac rails, movable, switch points, separate operating. and locking tie rods connecting said [P.Q a] sw e j e h e s e lfmet e sta me e F.9 ga PY E 1 .933 5.- .Wr b resilient connection between said operating memr d. d? 'P r es ti gi answer nected with said locking tie rodhaving means tance is one quarter inch, as determined by the thickness of the test obstructiondescribed above, the distance through which the rod I4 will move through the bracket I5 i aboutthre sixteenths of an inch. Therefore, when the. switch. is thrown against the test obstruction, the rod I4 continues to move for three sixteenthsof an inch, compressing one of thesprings 25 before materially increasing the stresses in the operating connections,

and before any twisting occurs in fthe switch points. Th e one sixteenth of an inch difference between the ,width of the test obstructionand the permitted compression of the, cushioning spring w rsen w ia ii li e ew man chine to lock the switch" points at-itherf limit of their movement, 'said locking ,means bei'ii'ginopmined minimum instanc shaman limit- "ing the relative moveme rit atl saidresilienhconv Lnec'tion between saidoperatingimember said operating tie ro d to an amount no greater than said predetermined minimum separation between said points' a'nd'the track rails;

' ffALvIN L, CLYMER.

, r oYn W.,"l\/I1'LNER. 

